Jeanne d’Arc is an icon. As such she has been pictured in an innumerable ways – Whether printed, drawn or sculptured she has embellished everything from coins to cheese wrappings.
Jeanne d’Arc is an icon. As such she has been pictured in an innumerable ways – Whether printed, drawn or sculptured she has embellished everything from coins to cheese wrappings. More than eighty objects or images from the traditional to the decidedly wacky are shown in Orleans in the 12th century church, “Collégiale Saint-Pierre-le-Puellier d’Orléans” from the 13.09.2012 – 14.10.2012.
Olivier Bouzy, who is curator of the Centre Jeanne d’Arc and curator of the exhibition tells, that “the choice was difficult among the thousands of presentations of this national icon.
In the end 80 significant pieces were chosen and divided up into three parts: “The birth of a legend”, “The true story of the maiden of d’Orleans” and “The contemporary image of Joan of Arc.” However, the exhibition does not try to tell the story of the “true” Jeanne d’Arc, but rather the way in which the different myths were created from Chinon an unwards.
The exhibition presents the possibility to look at a series of documents dating from the Middle Ages and until after WW2
The exhibition is part of the festivities in Orleans in 2012, celebrating the 600-year anniversary of the birth of Jeanne d’arc.
Further, while in Orleans it might be interesting to follow the new Jeanne d’Arc route through the city and experience the recently reopened Jeanne d’Arc House – or rather the house of Jacuez Boucher, treasurer to the duke. Here Jeanne stayed from April to March 1429. (See the route )
Finally, it might be worth while laying hands on the comprehensive history and dictionary, which was published this year by Robert Lafont. Here – in 1214 pages – everything worthwhile knowing about the maid, the myth and the media is made available.
SOURCE:
Pamphlet introducing the exhibition in pdf
READ MORE:
Jeanne d’Arc : Histoire et dictionnaire
By Philippe Contamine, Olivier Bouzy, Xavier Hélary
Robert Laffont (5 janvier 2012)
The book is nominated to the Prix Historia 2012